CEDAR CITY, Utah, Jan. 16 – Two Southern Utah University football players, Robert Torgerson and Chandler Dowell, have been named to the College Sports Journal’s 2013 first team All-Freshman Football Team, it was announced today.

Torgerson, a defensive lineman from Richfield, Utah (Richfield HS) who lined up at both tackle and end, tallied 35 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last season. He also knocked down four passes, recovered one fumble –which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown in the NCAA playoffs against Sam Houston State – forced another fumble and had a quarterback hurry in 2013.

Dowell, a long-snapper from Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS), was the Thunderbirds’ snapper for all place-kicks and punts in 2013. He was perfect snapping on a total of 51 for place-kick attempts (25 field goals and 26 PAT) and had just two bad snaps on 81 punts. He was also in on four tackles with one solo stop this past season.

Dowell’s efforts helped kicker Colton Cook to be named to virtually every 2013 all-American squad, while punter Brock Miller ranked 11th in the nation with an average of 43.4 yards per punt and the Thunderbirds ranked fourth in the nation in net punting.

Torgerson and Dowell give SUU five freshman all-Americans in the past three seasons as linebacker Zak Browning and defensive end James Cowser earned the distinction last year while wide receiver Brady Measom was named to the team in 2011.

Four Big Sky players were named to the first team, including Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp, who was named offensive freshman of the year, and Cal Poly guard Matt Fisher along with the two SUU players. Also from the Big Sky, Montana State offensive tackle JP Flynn, Eastern Washington defensive end Samson Ebukam and North Dakota safety Cam Kuksa earned second-team honors.